Food & Wine Pairing

About a year ago, I was hosting a tasting at Total Wine in Naples, FL, on a lively Friday night. The crowd was lighter than usual — a rare treat — which meant I could wander between the bottles, chat with guests, and sneak in a few sips of my own at a relaxed pace. […]

Meet Mirassou California Pinot Grigio — your new go-to for easy sipping, sunny vibes, and pretending you’re the kind of person who drinks wine on a balcony with hydrangeas (even if you’re actually in sweatpants). With 160+ years of winemaking history, Mirassou basically looked at the California sun and said, “Yes, let’s bottle that.” And

Even if sweet wines aren’t usually your go-to, this one is impossible to resist! Meet a red Italian sparkling treasure from the magical Piedmont region in northwestern Italy With an alcohol content around 11.5%—including 6.5% luscious residual sugar—this wine is a rare gem: one of the few sweet Italian wines to earn DOCG status, the

Holidays and gatherings are the perfect excuse to end on a sweet note—and the right wine pairing can take dessert from tasty to unforgettable! Here are two golden rules for delicious success: Match acidity with acidity – Serving a fruit-based dessert? Pair it with a wine that’s just as zesty. The wine’s acidity will make

Is Dom Perignon the real McCoy? Did you know sparkling wine exists because wine basically said, “Oops… my bad”? Back in the 1600s, some bottles decided to re-ferment all on their own, trapping bubbles inside and surprising everyone (especially the winemakers). Dom Pérignon usually gets the glory around 1697, but plot twist—he may not have

Red Zinfandel is often called California’s flagship grape—and once you taste it, it’s easy to see why. Bold, juicy, and full of personality, this wine rarely fades into the background. It’s known for its rich, jammy fruit flavors layered with hints of pepper and spice, making it a favorite for anyone who enjoys a red

If loving wine and snacks is wrong, I don’t want to be right. How often do you catch yourself snacking and suddenly craving a glass of wine to go with it? Maybe you’ve just polished off some Gonga (guilty pleasures, anyone?) and now you’re eyeing a White Castle burger with the perfect pour. But here’s

When it comes to pairing wine with plant-based meals, the old rules still work—white wines with lighter fare and reds with the “meatier” veggie imposters. But let’s be honest: your cauliflower steak isn’t fooling anyone, so give it a medium-bodied red anyway and let it pretend. Crisp, unoaked whites like Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier,

Once considered the “lost grape” of Bordeaux, Carménère pulled a dramatic disappearing act in France only to resurface in Chile, where it’s been stealing the spotlight ever since. Often mistaken for Merlot, this red wine brings its own personality to the table—juicy red and black berry flavors with a little green peppercorn sass. Think of